An experienced veteran and a talented sophomore, motivated teammates on the court, great friends off the court, senior Jackie Shtemberg (Franklin Lakes, NJ/Ramapo) and sophomore Felice Trinh (Linden, NJ/Linden) are the epitome of a perfect pair. 

    “When she came in, coach (Scott Dicheck) sort of had an instinct to put us together,” said Shtemberg on being paired with Trinh. 

    Dicheck was right. 

    Shtemberg and Trinh went undefeated at the 2009 Wilson/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Northeast Regional Championships, blowing past all other competitors and taking home the victory. 

They will be moving on to the ITA (Intercollegiate Tennis Association) National Small College Championships at the Copeland-Cox Tennis Center in Mobile, Ala., Oct. 15-18, the pair's biggest accomplishment yet. The two will be fighting for their chance to become national champions. 

    In the first round of the tournament, Shtemberg and Trinh will play Kendra Higgins and Chrissy Hu from the University of Chicago, who were the 2009 NCAA Division III Doubles Champions last spring. 

    “I was so nervous throughout the whole match. I kept walking over to Jackie and was like I need a minute. And then we finally won and I just couldn't believe it. It was so exciting,” said Trinh on her reactions to winning the tournament. 

    Dicheck believes that the two did so well because they were great at communicating with each other. He feels Shtemberg and Trinh have a good shot at the title amongst the small, yet elite group. 

    “There are only eight double teams,” said Dicheck, “You're targeting a very small group of teams. All the teams are going to be very good. We play three matches; every one of them is going to be competitive. But, I like our chances.” 

    Shtemberg and Trinh could possibly earn a spot into the ITA National Intercollegiate Championships in November with Division I schools if they play extremely well and win the National Small College championship. 

    “I definitely think it will be the best doubles result over my three years,” said Shtemberg on her expectations going into the championships, “I think we have a good shot, we just gotta work hard and stay focused.” 

    Shtemberg and Trinh have become competitors on a national level. Together, they are 7-1 in overall competition. They have won six consecutive matches. The pair won twice in doubles play and won their respective singles matches at the 2009 New Jersey Athletic Conference. 

    “They both are extremely talented players,” said Dicheck, “It's really learning how to feed off each other and communicate. That's something they really did well this fall.” 

    The pairs' remarkable performance on the court has come in large part to their performance off the court. 

    “We get along really well. And then as time went on, we started these funny handshakes, which keeps me pumped up,” said Shtemberg on Trinh, “The fact that we get along, just makes it that much easier.” 

    And Shtemberg is no stranger to winning. 

    With countless victories and few defeats, Shtemberg is a powerhouse in the world of Division III tennis. She won the ITA Northeast Singles Championship in 2006, while earning All-America honors as a rookie. Shtemberg repeated as the ITA Northeast Singles Champion in 2007 and was the first female student-athlete from the College to win the prestigious 2007 ITA National Small College Championship title. She capped off 2007 by being selected as the New Jersey Athletic Conference Women's Tennis Player of the Year, later earned a bid to the 2008 National Championships, and her list of wins registers in at over 100. 

    “Jackie is extremely talented,” said Dicheck, “She is very athletic and very determined and I think when you put them all together you're going to get success.” 

    Dicheck maintains a vision for his tennis team, even after Shtemberg graduates. 

    “Jackie is great with the young kids right now. Seven freshman and sophomores have started this fall. She is a very good leader to them. As they get older, the entire group will be ready to step up,” said Dicheck. 

    Shtemberg has an extra semester at the College and will be around to help with the younger girls as much as she can. 

    Trinh, only a sophomore, should continue to flourish for the team even after Shtemberg rides into the sunset. In her freshman campaign, Trinh was named the New Jersey Athletic Conference's Rookie of the Year, which she says is her biggest accomplishment to date. 

    “To earn Rookie of the Year was kind of a big thing for me,” said Trinh. 

    If that was big, how does the title of national champion sound! Trinh, along with Shtemberg, will take aim at finding out this week in Alabama.